pinkupengu's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Alcohol, Grief, Drug use, Death of parent, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Colonisation
wet_towlette's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is definitely young young adult. I certainly enjoyed this much more when I was 14 but for what it was, it was good. Nothing really special but cute nonetheless. Although I greatly wish the author didn’t have to bring up his incredibly blue eyes and gigantic hands all the time 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
emily_mh's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's a crime that this book doesn't have a higher average rating. I enjoyed this so much! The setting was absolutely wonderful. I mean, a boarding school in the mountains in autumn and winter, with a cute little mountain village and day trips to Aspen??? Incredible. It oozed luxury and coziness. I also loved Jaya and Grey as main characters. I definitely related to Jaya, with her Type A, big sister energy, and Menon KNEW how to write that male perspective.
In terms of plot, I thought that it was a really cool adaption of Beauty and the Beast. The pacing was so well done, with just the right amount of time spent at each stage: enemies, budding relationship, angst and the reconciliation. The angst was SO GOOD, but so was the reconciliation - it was so urgent, but soft and sweet at the same time.
I did dock this book half a star as the inner monologues of Jaya and Grey were verrry repetitive in the beginning of this book. There was also a LOT of hindsight at this point too which disconnected me from the present story too much. But overall, this book was fun, enjoyable, lighthearted and FULL of love and deserved every one of its 4.5 stars.
In terms of plot, I thought that it was a really cool adaption of Beauty and the Beast. The pacing was so well done, with just the right amount of time spent at each stage: enemies, budding relationship, angst and the reconciliation. The angst was SO GOOD, but so was the reconciliation - it was so urgent, but soft and sweet at the same time.
I did dock this book half a star as the inner monologues of Jaya and Grey were verrry repetitive in the beginning of this book. There was also a LOT of hindsight at this point too which disconnected me from the present story too much. But overall, this book was fun, enjoyable, lighthearted and FULL of love and deserved every one of its 4.5 stars.
Spoiler
I will also say that I thought the infidelity plot line was kind of unnecessary. Although the cheater/homewrecker kind of got their comeuppance, I just questioned the need for its inclusion, as I always do in romance books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Sexism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, and Murder
mybookishlife2's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I am ultimately confused. I loved the enemies to lovers and it turning into real feelings for each other, but I felt some of the writing was really repetitive and Jaya’s mentality, while I can understand it in a way, it’s a mentality that I have a hard time swallowing. But on the other hand, this book was enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying
malloryfitz's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
yodareads12's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I first started reading this book I was extremely nervous. It's starts out with some princesses transferring to a school with a bunch of spoiled rich heirs and heiresses. Not something I'd typically enjoy. However, the author definitely brought this story around to be something beautiful and thought provoking!
The boarding school, St.Rosetta, is set near Aspen in the mountains. You have all the typical cliché school cliques, just with a little more power than the typical school. Jaya has made it a mission to get into Grey's clique so she can seek revenge for her little sister.
Of course, the story never ends the way it begins. She discovers there's a lot more to Grey than her original, misguided assumption and they both go on a tour of self-discovery. I loved how the author got right behind the mask of each character and show the insecurities that we all have.
I think my favorite character would have to be Isha, Jaya's younger sister. She was always determined to be herself no matter what society demanded. She knew what she wanted and she went for it.
I definitely really enjoyed this cute little romance story! However, there were way more curse words than I like, especially seeing as it's classified as a young adult novel.
As far as recommendations, this is for those who love young adult romance and fairytale retellings. This one specifically retells the story of Beauty and the Beast.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
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